Fall Forecast: Mild to Moderate
A Chat with Bob Eriksen, NWTF director of conservation operations
Equipment for Fall Turkey Hunting
Q: What is the best way to make a kee-kee or kee-kee-run call that is not a mouth diaphram call? Do they make such a call?
— Greg O’Toole, Saginaw, Mich.
A: In the right hands, many commercially available slate, glass and ceramic friction calls can produce a good kee-kee. The trick is to use the outside edge of the call for the whistle or kee and move the peg toward the center of the call surface for the ending yelps. Using consistent pressure on the peg, stroke two or three small arcs or “Js” for the kee-kees and without taking the peg from the surface make the yelps by making small circles or scrip letter e’s. Each call has a “sweet spot” so you will have to experiment to find the best part of the surface to use. Tube calls also can be used to make a great kee-kee if you cannot use a mouth call. A few call companies manufacture whistles that make a very realistic kee-kee. Using that type of call you will have to finish with yelps on a box or slate style caller.
Q: What is the best brand and size of ammo for turkey hunting? What manufacturer makes the best chokes and what size is the best for turkey hunting?
— David Hazelwood, Charlottesville, Va.
A: The variety of choke tubes and ammunition available for turkey hunting can be confusing. Your shotgun will be the determining factor in deciding which ammo to use. Surveys have shown that more turkey hunters use No. 4 shot than any other shot size. The second most popular shot size is No. 6 followed by No. 5. Always check your state game regulations to determine the shot sizes that are legal.
Alloys that are heavier than lead have become increasingly popular among turkey hunters. When choosing a choke tube, you need to think about what type of shot you’ll be using. Years ago, most turkey hunters used full choke shotguns or full choke tubes. Today there are tighter choke tubes on the market, tubes with straight rifling and ported tubes. Ported tubes can reduce the recoil you feel but can be tough on your ears. Always use ear protection at the range. The right choke tube and load can give you a great pattern, but there is a price to be paid for tight patterns. At close range the pattern is so small that turkeys are easier to miss. The NWTF does not recommend shooting at a turkey that is more than 40 yards away.
Q: In your professional, expert opinion what type(s) and specific brand(s) of call would replicate a fall gobbler yelp the most? I’m speaking of an “over-the counter,” mass-produced call. If more than one product is involved – perhaps a certain brand of friction call and another brand of striker – please be specific on that too. Thank you!
— Ken Seremet, Youngwood, Pa.
A: I recommend shopping around for a good friction call to produce gobbler yelps. A number of commercially available slate, glass, aluminum and ceramic calls can produce good gobbler yelps. Choose a call with a fairly deep sound chamber (3/8 to 1/2 inch). I prefer a wood pot, but other materials function well too. There are custom calls that will set you back a few more dollars, but some of them can produce outstanding gobbler yelps.
One of the best ways to choose a call is to go to a major outdoor show like the NWTF National Convention and Sport Show, which will take place in Nashville, Tenn., in February of 2010, or the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show in Harrisburg, Pa. Stop at several call maker booths and play their calls. Ask them to demonstrate gobbler yelps, and then try it yourself and choose the one you prefer.
As far as pegs are concerned, I’d advise the same thing. Try them out before buying. Oak or hickory strikers can produce good gobbler yelps on the right surface. Some of the laminate strikers are really good, too. Rosewood and carbon strikers can be very good, again on the right surface. Don’t expect your gobbler yelps to be perfect without practice!
Q: What is the most common rifle/shot gun used by women when turkey and deer hunting?
— Wendy Brocklebank, Cambridge, Ontario
A: By and large turkey hunters prefer 12 gauge shotguns. Surveys of turkey hunters indicate that pump actions are preferred with semi-automatics running a close second. There are a number of reliable 20 gauge shotguns on the market today so it becomes a matter of deciding whether you want to sacrifice a higher pellet count from a 12 gauge for less recoil and lighter weight.
Semi-automatic shotguns are heavier than pump action or double-barreled guns, but the cycling of the action will reduce the recoil you’ll feel. Many manufacturers have worked hard to design shotguns that feature less recoil than older firearms. If the thought of recoil worries you, a 20 gauge semi-automatic might be a good choice. I suggest going to the range with friends and trying out a couple of different shotguns. Remember that you are more likely to feel recoil when shooting at the range than when shooting at game.
As far as deer rifles are concerned, you may want to consider a .243 or .270. Both are good deer rifles with limited felt recoil. Many other calibers are available but these are two very popular calibers for young hunters and women. Also, new, specialized, light-recoil ammunition is available for many calibers.
Q: Are turkey decoys as useful in the fall as in the spring? Once you’ve broken up a group, does the calling entice them back or will the visual stimulation of seeing a decoy also help? If decoys are useful, do you advise a group of hens, a mixed group or just one bird?
— Franklin Coble, Springfield, Ill.
A: I think fall hunters are less likely to use decoys than spring hunters. The most common style of fall hunting, easing through the woods and trying to get close enough to a flock to scatter the birds, just doesn’t lend itself to carrying a lot of equipment. That said, the visual reinforcement of a few decoys could help to entice a reluctant gang of turkeys. However, in my opinion, calling and woodcraft will do more for your success than all the decoys in the world. For the purpose of hunting flocks composed of hens and young birds in the fall, a number of decoys would likely be best if you decide to use them. For old gobblers, I generally would not recommend using decoys. Instead, call sparingly and let the gobblers search for you.
Q: In my home state of Pennsylvania turkey season comes in during archery season. I always see turkeys while bow hunting and was wondering if my standard G5 broadhead would work for taking a turkey or if should I be using something else. Thank you.
— John Missal, Palmerton, Pa.
A: Standard deer hunting broadheads do work well on turkeys. There are a number of other possibilities. I would visit some Web sites of the major archery equipment manufacturers and see what they suggest. There are some outstanding archers in Pennsylvania, so you might want to visit the Pennsylvania NWTF’s Web site and post this question.
I don’t consider myself an expert on archery hunting for wild turkeys. Some advice I will give you for archery hunting, however, is to use a blind and decoys. You also should practice drawing and shooting your bow from a sitting or kneeling position. Practice relatively close shots. The kill zone for wild turkeys with archery equipment is a small target and turkeys rarely stand still for very long!
Q: What is the best call in the fall for a mature gobbler to respond to? And what’s the best way to present that call?
— Wesley Phelps, Social Circle, Ga.
A: Old gobblers tend to be less than talkative in the fall. If there are three or four of them together they might yelp once or twice or give a couple of deep clucks before flying down in the morning. On very rare occasions I have heard an old gobbler assembly yelp.
Most of the time the best call to use on old toms in the fall is a short series (one to three) of coarse, drawn out gobbler yelps. Make the calls loud if you don’t think the gobblers are close by. If they are close, keep the volume down and make them search for you. You might also use clucks if you think you are close to a gang of toms.
Once in a while a fall turkey hunter is fortunate enough to start the old boys gobbling. In that case you might want to try calling like you would in the spring with hen yelps, clucks and cutting. A few times I have had gobblers come in strutting and gobbling in the fall. As in the spring it can pay to experiment with different calls.
Q: I’m 52 years old and this fall will be my first time hunting deer and turkey. Leaving cost out of the answer, would you recommend a separate shotgun for turkey or would a combo be sufficient?
— Andrew Metrick, Floral Park, N.Y.
A: If you plan to hunt both deer and turkeys, one shotgun can do the trick, depending on your preference for a shotgun type. A pump or semi-automatic shotgun will cover both types of hunting well. You may want to consider purchasing two barrels for the same shotgun, one smoothbore with changeable choke tubes for turkey and small game hunting and a rifled barrel for deer hunting with rifled slugs. Today’s rifled slug barrels can produce amazing accuracy.
Most turkey and deer hunters prefer to use 12 gauge shotguns, but there are some outstanding versatile 20 gauge shotguns on the market as well. If you prefer to hunt turkeys with a double barrel, you may find it necessary to purchase a second firearm for deer hunting with slugs.
Q: I hear so much about a gobbler yelp. What is the best call for this and how is it done?
— Chuck Patch, Smock, Pa.
A: A number of slate, acrylic, ceramic, aluminum and glass calls will produce a good gobbler yelp as will some long boxes. Experiment with different pegs on your slate style call and try changing the way you hold the call to change the resonance. Gobblers usually yelp in short series of one, two or three yelps. Draw the call out, making it longer than you would make an individual hen yelp. Pause slightly between yelps rather than running tem together.
On a box call, stroke the lid more slowly than you would for hen yelps. If you plan to focus your attention on hunting adult gobblers in the fall, you might want to think about checking out some of the custom calls specifically designed to make gobbler yelps.
Q: Should a hunter use decoys in the fall like they would in the spring? If so, how many should they use and should they be singles or in a group?
— Richard Schmidt, Fairfax, Minn.
A: Decoys can play a role in fall hunting, especially if you plan to hunt fields and spend time in one place. A small group of decoys might enhance your ability to entice a flock of turkeys to come your way. Decoys tend to reinforce the confidence turkeys have in approaching the sound of a call. However, they don’t work every time! Most fall hunters do not use decoys because the common fall hunting style involves walking or still hunting trying to locate a flock and then approaching the birds in an attempt to flush them and scatter the flock. Hunting that way does not lend itself to carrying much extra equipment.
